richard Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 Hello So, the smoking ban is now here in scotland, and, officially it bans smoking in all workplaces - including on stage! This means that anyone caught smoking on stage (including an actor during a production) could be fined. Do we think this means that people are going to have to stop? Is anyone touring to scotland at the moment - if so how are the theatres reacting to the change in law? I am interested to see what happens with this - last I heard Edinburgh council were unsure themseleves as to how the law will be enforced in theatres, so there may be a bit of messing around before it is properly bedded in!! To quote the scottish executives website at website Theatres and broadcasting/film studios will be no-smoking premises under the law, so it will be an offence to smoke in them, including on-stage, from 26 March. Those performing in and attending theatrical performances have the same right to protection from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke as others. It should be noted that the law applies to any product which can be smoked, so the smoking of herbal cigarettes is also prohibited. For those theatrical or film performances which require to protray smoking, other artifical products will need to be used. Talculm powder cigarettes it is then! Thanks Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lightnix Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 ...It should be noted that the law applies to any product which can be smoked...Would it be possible to do something creative with incence (you'd be mad to try smoking that), or does "can be smoked" mean anything that can be inhaled passively? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 Short article in "The Sunday Herald" this morning re a forthcoming Scottish Opera production: Cigarette girl Carmen hit by smoking ban. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 Tomo's got it all sorted ask him :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 Micro-minature smoke machine.The hard part is the battery... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 I've often thought all actors, as a condition of employment, should have an MKE2 capsule surgically implanted in their nose. With the change in smoking laws, perhaps the same op should now include the micro miniature smoke machine. As for the battery issue, I think we should go for wind power. Have you ever met an actor who wasn't full of hot air? Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lightnix Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 In the News today... Mel Smith flicks V at smoking banMel Smith, the comedian, actor and director, has flashed a giant Churchillian V-sign at the Scottish Parliament by threatening to smoke on stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Smith, who plays the cigar-chomping wartime leader in the play Allegiance, claims the smoking ban "would have delighted Adolf Hitler"... ...This year's Fringe is the first since the ban was introduced and several other venues are threatening to break the law in what they insist are the interests of artistic integrity... Smith told Scotland on Sunday: "Who knows, maybe I'll light it [the cigar]. Maybe I won't. But maybe I will... what are they going to do... extradite me?... ..."Maybe we should just say to people, 'Please be warned: Mel Smith does smoke a third of a Romeo & Julietta cigar in this show. If you fear for your health, don't come.'... ...The comedian went on to slam the Scottish Parliament, and made scathing comparisons between the originators of the bill and anti-smoking obsessive Adolf Hitler. Smith, who has ruled out using a fake cigar, added: "I will not have people protecting me from myself. That's the whole problem with this country... "...The thing I would like to say about it is that it would have delighted Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler, as you know, was anti-smoking. You couldn't smoke at Adolf Hitler's dining table, so he'd be pleased, wouldn't he? Congratulations Scotland."... Hill Street Theatre manager Tomek Borkowy has vowed to defy the ban during the Fringe, branding it "communist censorship"... "The play in question is about a meeting between Sigmund Freud and God. Freud was a big smoker. It would be ridiculous not to show that because of a brainless piece of legislation." The law as it stands imposes a £50 fine for those flouting the ban and a £200 penalty for the manager or owner of any premises which allows smoking... Borkowy has written an open letter to the Scottish Parliament asking for the law to be changed. He told Scotland on Sunday: "As a non-smoker I am not opposed to the ban totally, but it simply should not affect the theatre in this way.... I will not pay any fine imposed on me and I will go to jail if I have to..." The producers of Bill Hicks: Slight Return, have said they will bring back their show "in defiance of the smoking ban"... ...In the past, the show's star, Chas Early, was seen smoking throughout. However, the company has already had a warning from city council chiefs. As a result, Early's Hicks character will step outside the Pleasance to smoke while the audience watches a TV projection. Unprotected, which will run at the Traverse in August,... features smoking. The show's director, Nina Raine, said that while the ban is "outrageous" she will replace smoking with cups of tea during the performances to adhere with legislation. Maureen Moore, chief executive of anti-smoking group Ash Scotland, had no sympathy for any actors wanting to smoke on stage. She said: "The theatre is a workplace. This law was brought in to protect people in the workplace. It is the law in Scotland and an actor is not above the law... "When actors take drugs on stage they don't really inject. And when they have sex on stage they don't really have sex. So why use real smoke when there's a real health risk to actors and the audience?" A Scottish Executive spokesman said: "...If smoking requires to be represented in film, TV and theatre performances, realistic alternatives can be used or developed." Edinburgh City Council said any premises flouting the ban would be open to investigation.Full story here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 In the News today... ...and the fact that this has got him lots of column-inches of free publicity is of course completely irrelevant.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 In the News today... Mel Smith flicks V at smoking banWell, much as I like and respect Mr M Smith as a comedian, I feel that this (obvious) publicity stunt does him little credit where I'm concerned.Whether an actor feels that BECAUSE he's playing a part of a smoker on stage he/she MUST actually smoke a real ciggie, is totally irelevant. I, for one, support the ban on smoking wherever, as I think I've remonstrated elsewhere on this forum, and that includes on stage. There ARE alternatives, be they realistic enough or not, but the simple fact remains that one smoker in a room of non-smokers is infringing the rights of all those others to breathe clean (ish) air. The comment Smith, who has ruled out using a fake cigar, added: "I will not have people protecting me from myself. That's the whole problem with this country... is rather telling of the selfish attitude of many (not necessarily all) smokers in that they believe that when smoking it's just THEIR health they risk, not anyone elses. So - to Edinburgh council I say - "More power to you, sirs!" If I were to contravene any other law and publicise the fact that I am doing so, I would expect to be penalised for it, regardless. Speeding, drug taking, violence etc etc. End of rant. TD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick S Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 I am seriously looking forward to a smoke free fringe. Perhaps Mel Smith would spare a thought for non smoking technicians working in the venues he's smoking in. Having worked in a smoking venue / cabaret last year, I certainly wasn't particularly happy come the end of the festival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jram Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Regardless of the alleged selfishness of those quoted above, I for one - as someone who has never touched a cigarette - welcome anyone who stands up against this legislation. Why don't the Government just bubble-wrap us at birth? Anyway, I'm sure this has all been covered on here previously, so I'll leave it at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 An extract from the proposed regulations published this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lightnix Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 In the latest chapter of this nonsensical saga, Glasgow City Council are investigating claims that Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards smoked a ciggie on stage, at their gig in Hampden Park last Friday. If found guilty, he will face a fine of £50 and the venue may also be fined £250. That'll teach them :D Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. On a personal note, I'd just like to add that I think it's fantastic, that after nearly half a century in the business, the Rolling Stones are still setting a shocking example to kids everywhere - keep it up, lads :) Well, come on... what else are the Rolling Stones for ? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieR Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 I'm actually surprised that he is being prosecuted on this one. This was an outdoor concert and - if my interpretation of the new law is correct - then as long as the area in which he was smoking was not enclosed by more than 75% then he was perfectly entitled to do so. At least that is the way I understand things... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted August 28, 2006 Share Posted August 28, 2006 I'm actually surprised that he is being prosecuted on this one. The scottish evening papers are saying that the authorities will not be prosecuting - the press coverage was hyped up by the anti-smoking brigade. Their argument is that since the stage area was enclosed on 3 sides, it is classed as "indoor". However, according to the Evening Times, the smoking ban does not apply in sports stadia (unless roofed!) - smoking is generally banned in these places, but it's either simply banned by the owners on fire safety grounds, or via local by-laws or H&S regulations - it's not covered by the national legislation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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